Language & Cultural Services
LCS Bulletin - October 10, 2016
Increasing our Focus on General Academic Vocabulary
There has been much discussion around the topic of academic language instruction for English learners, and for all students. The discussion has revolved around the need to teach students the language of academia, the language of college and career readiness, and language needed to be successful in our ever-changing society.
Within this discussion, the topic of vocabulary often comes to the surface. Vocabulary is one key component of academic language, and one with which teachers are very familiar. Given the high importance of vocabulary in instruction, teachers should use every available opportunity to emphasize key vocabulary in the classroom.
Some of the ways to emphasize vocabulary, however, are subtle, and some are more overt.
My Name, My Identity
Take Action
Globally competent students are able to take action in the following ways:
- Identify and create opportunities for personal or collaborative action to address situations, events, issues, or phenomena in ways that improve conditions.
- Assess options and plan actions based on evidence and the potential for impact, taking into account previous approaches, varied perspectives, and potential consequences.
- Act, personally or collaboratively, in creative and ethical ways to contribute to improvement locally, regionally, or globally and assess the impact of the actions taken.
- Reflect on their capacity to advocate for and contribute to improvement locally, regionally, or globally.
Teacher's Guide for "Take Action"
This section of the resources is intended to support individuals who have made the pledge to encourage students to take actions, use the tools to pronounce others' names correctly and to encourage others to take the pledge. Some of the resources listed here could address one or more aspects of global competence: Investigate the World (IW), Recognize Perspectives (RP), Communicate Ideas (CI) and Take Action (TA).
SUGGESTED IDEAS
- Have students develop ideas on how they can pronounce others' names correctly and show respect to others
- Have students create plans for the My Name, My Identity Campaign with measurable outcomes for their class, grade level, or school
October 7 ELD Teacher Institute Recap
- Critical value of knowing and pronouncing students' names correctly and taking the My Name, My Identity pledge
- Instructional resources for ELA and ELD and how they can be maximized and integrated to support English Learners
- Coteaching resources, ideas, and sharing from colleagues to improve all of our practices in serving our English Learners
- Tips and resources to support you as site-based trainers in sharing Ellevation InClass with your colleagues to increase collaborative support for English Learners
You can access information and resources shared during the training here. We look forward to continuing our learning journey with you!
New SIOP Resource: Presenting Content and Language Objectives
Download this great SIOP resource here.
Webinar Series: Supporting English Learners with Close Reading
Webinar I: Supporting English Learners With Close Reading: Addressing Background Knowledge
This webinar will focus on methods for identifying and developing background knowledge in preparation for close reading of text.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
4–5 p.m. Eastern Time
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8946726492660198915
Webinar II: Supporting English Language Learners With Close Reading: Acquiring Vocabulary
This webinar will focus on identifying vocabulary to teach in anticipation of close reading, for extended and embedded instruction, and sharing methods of vocabulary instruction.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
4–5 p.m. Eastern Time
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9075727793900687619
Webinar III: Supporting English Language Learners With Close Reading: Interactive Reading Strategies
This final webinar will focus on strategies teachers can use to help students access text during close reading.
4–5 p.m. Eastern Time
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5495002151791868163
COHO Health Fair at Disney Elementary on October 15
Reminder: OCR Language Assistance Services Training for SY 2016-2017
Reminder: OCR Interpreter and Translator Skill Building Training for SY 2016-2017
Training for interpreters and translators is required annually per the district's resolution agreement with the Office of Civil Rights regarding language assistance services.
Training for new interpreters and translators is hosted at Wilson Teaching and Learning Academy monthly. The in-person training schedule and registration information is posted in Edivate. Training for new interpreters and translators must be completed within four weeks of their testing appointment. Testing for new interpreters and translators can be scheduled by emailing a testing appointment request to languageassistance@tulsaschools.org.
Training for continuing interpreters and translators is available in a video format on Edivate. Training for continuing interpreters and translators must be completed by October 1st, 2016. Training may only be completed through the course in Edivate and course completion will only be recorded for those who register for the course using the course registration code located in the registration guide. We have created a step-by-step registration guide for the online training course in Edivate.
Please contact the Palmira Saldivar or Zaida Kepford, languageassistance@tulsaschools.org, with any related questions.
Four Reasons to Learn a New Language
Let's Stay Connected
Find us on Facebook at TPS Language & Cultural Services or @tpsmultilingual and on Twitter at TPSLanguage&Cultural or @TPSMultilingual. We want to connect with you!
Missed a Department Meeting?
Elementary ELD Department Meetings
Language & Cultural Services Events
October 12, 3:30pm - Imagine Learning Training
October 13, 3:45pm - ELD Department Meeting (Elementary)
October 13, 4:45pm - ELD Department Meeting (Secondary)
October 15, 9:00am - COHO Health Fair at Disney Elementary
All events are listed in MyLearningPlan unless otherwise noted. Please pre-register and verify session location in MLP.
Check out the Language & Cultural Services events calendar for future events.